Foldable table

ABSTRACT

A foldable table has a frame and a panel removably placed thereon. The frame has a pair of beams, four legs pivotally linked to ends of the beams with four links, a sleeve slidable with respect to each leg, a pair of scissoring end bars linking sleeves and links of each same ends of opposite beams, a tilt bar linking each sleeve and respect beam. The foldable table is able to be folded or expanded by a one-step simple operation and has a small folded volume and a large expanded use area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a foldable table, and more particularly, to a foldable table which is able to be easily folded and occupies a small storage volume.

2. Description of Related Art

Foldable tables that are able to be folded for storage or conveyance have long been developed. However, they are either complex in operation of folding or expanding or bulky in folded volume. A foldable table which is able to be put in a trunk of a sedan when folded however having a large expanded area for use is favored.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a foldable table which is able to be folded or expanded by a one-step simple operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable table which has a small folded volume and a large expanded use area.

In order to accomplish above objects, it is provided a foldable table having a frame and a panel removably placed on the frame. The frame has:

-   -   a first beam having a first end and an opposite second end;     -   a second beam having a first end and an opposite second end;     -   a first leg pivotally linked to the first beam in a vicinity of         the first end thereof with a first link;     -   a second leg pivotally linked to the first beam in a vicinity of         the second end thereof with a second link;     -   a third leg pivotally linked to the second beam in a vicinity of         the first end thereof with a third link;     -   a fourth leg pivotally linked to the second beam in a vicinity         of the second end thereof with a fourth link;     -   a first, a second, a third, and a fourth sleeves respectively         slidable with respect to the first, the second, the third, and         the fourth legs;     -   a first end bar pivotally linked to the first link at one end         thereof and to the third sleeve at a free end thereof,     -   a coupling first end bar pivotally linked to the third link at         one end thereof and to the first sleeve at a free end thereof,         with the first and the coupling first end bars being hinged at         about a middle portion thereof and able to scissor with respect         to each other;     -   a second end bar pivotally linked to the second link at one end         thereof and to the fourth sleeve at a free end thereof;     -   a coupling second end bar pivotally linked to the fourth link at         one end thereof and to the second sleeve at a free end thereof,         with the second and the coupling second end bars being hinged at         about a middle portion thereof and able to scissor with respect         to each other;     -   a first and a second tilt bars respectively and pivotally linked         to the first and the second sleeves at one end thereof and         pivotally linked to the first beam at a free end thereof; and,     -   a third and a fourth tilt bars respectively and pivotally linked         to the third and the fourth sleeves at one end thereof and         pivotally linked to the second beam at a free end thereof.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable table of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame of the foldable table shown in FIG. 1 with a panel thereof being removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 2 when it is in a half folded status.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame shown in FIG. 3. And,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 2 when it is in a fully folded status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a foldable table of the invention has a frame 10 and a panel 20 removably placed on the frame 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 10 has a first beam 11 having a first end and an opposite second end, a second beam 11′ having a first end and an opposite second end, a first leg 12 a pivotally linked to the first beam 11 in a vicinity of the first end thereof with a first link 13 a, a second leg 12 b pivotally linked to the first beam 11 in a vicinity of the second end thereof with a second link 13 b, a third leg 12 a′ pivotally linked to the second beam 11′ in a vicinity of the first end thereof with a third link 13 a′, a fourth leg 12 b′ pivotally linked to the second beam 11′ in a vicinity of the second end thereof with a fourth link 13 b′, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth sleeves 14 a, 14 b, 14 a′ and 14 b′ respectively slidable with respect to the first, the second, the third, and the fourth legs 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′ and 12 b′, a first end bar 15 a pivotally linked to the first link 13 a at one end thereof and to the third sleeve 14 a′ at a free end thereof, a coupling first end bar 15 a′ pivotally linked to the third link 13 a′ at one end thereof and to the first sleeve 14 a at a free end thereof, a second end bar 15 b pivotally linked to the second link 13 b at one end thereof and to the fourth sleeve 14 b′ at a free end thereof, a coupling second end bar 15 b′ pivotally linked to the fourth link 13 b′ at one end thereof and to the second sleeve 14 b at a free end thereof, a first and a second tilt bars 16 a and 16 b respectively and pivotally linked to the first and the second sleeves 14 a and 14 b at one end thereof and pivotally linked to the first beam 11 at a free end thereof, and, a third and a fourth tilt bars 16 a′ and 16 b′ respectively and pivotally linked to the third and the fourth sleeves 14 a′ and 14 b′ at one end thereof and pivotally linked to the second beam 11′ at a free end thereof. The first and the coupling first end bars 15 a, 15 a′ are hinged at about the middle portion thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other. The second and the coupling second end bars 15 b, 15 b′ are hinged at about the middle portion thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the foldable table of the invention is needed to be folded, a user is able to remove the panel 20 from the table first and then hold any beam 11 or 11′ with one hand and any leg 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′ or 12 b′ linked to this beam 11 or 11′ with the other hand and move them towards each other. For example, by moving the first beam 11 and the first leg 12 a held toward each other around the first link 13 a, the first sleeve 14 a will move downward along the first leg 12 a. Consequently, the first and the coupling first end bars 15 a and 15 a′ will rotate with respect to each other, pulling the third leg 12 a′ towards the first leg 12 a. When the third leg 12 a′ and the second beam 11′ move towards the first beam 11, the fourth sleeve 14 b′ will go downward along the fourth leg 12 b′, causing the second and the coupling second end bars 15 b and 15 b′ rotating with respect to each other. If the user keeps moving, the foldable table will be able to be folded to an ultimate storage position, as shown in FIG. 5. A reverse operation will be able to expand the foldable table. Thus, the foldable table of the invention is able to be folded or expanded by a one-step simple operation.

The panel 20 may be any stiff board that is able to be placed on the frame 10 and act as a conventional table surface. It may be a whole sheet or two pivotally linked halves which are connected by, e.g., one or more hinges and are foldable to further save storage space when removed from the frame 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the panel 20 also may be a sheet having a plurality of still strips 21 placed and linked side by side. Such sheet will be able to be rolled into a cylinder to save storage space when removed from the frame 10.

From above description, it is seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from the invention's principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A foldable table comprising a frame and a panel removably placed on said frame, said frame having: a first beam having a first end and an opposite second end, a second beam having a first end and an opposite second end, a first leg pivotally linked to said first beam in a vicinity of said first end thereof with a first link, a second leg pivotally linked to said first beam in a vicinity of said second end thereof with a second link, a third leg pivotally linked to said second beam in a vicinity of said first end thereof with a third link, a fourth leg pivotally linked to said second beam in a vicinity of said second end thereof with a fourth link, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth sleeves respectively slidable with respect to said first, said second, said third, and said fourth legs, a first end bar pivotally linked to said first link at one end thereof and to said third sleeve at a free end thereof, a coupling first end bar pivotally linked to said third link at one end thereof and to said first sleeve at a free end thereof, with said first and said coupling first end bars being hinged at about a middle portion thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other, a second end bar pivotally linked to said second link at one end thereof and to said fourth sleeve at a free end thereof, a coupling second end bar pivotally linked to said fourth link at one end thereof and to said second sleeve at a free end thereof, with said second and said coupling second end bars being hinged at about a middle portion thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other, a first and a second tilt bars respectively and pivotally linked to said first and said second sleeves at one end thereof and pivotally linked to said first beam at a free end thereof, and, a third and a fourth tilt bars respectively and pivotally linked to said third and said fourth sleeves at one end thereof and pivotally linked to said second beam at a free end thereof.
 2. The foldable table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel has a plurality of still strips placed and linked side by side.
 3. The foldable table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel has two pivotally linked halves. 